School of the Nations Director, Dr Brian O’Toole, yesterday announced that its Berbice Branch at 5 Savannah Park, Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, will introduce a Sixth Form come September.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, he said the school is targeting some 100 students who must have at least five subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Examination Certificate (CSEC) examinations at grades one to three.

Also, candidates must obtain a grade one or grade two in the intended area of study.

The Director disclosed that the annual fee for the two year programme is $80,000 which could be paid in ten installments.

He explained that first year students will sit the Advance Subsidiary examinations in disciplines of their choice; and in the second year, they would have the option to continue with those subjects at a higher level or choose other subject areas.

According to Dr. O’ Toole, the programme is a not-for-profit undertaking and about 10 to 15 generous scholarships will be awarded to students in need and with very good qualifications.

He pointed out that the school’s Georgetown branch has been offering the A-Levels programme for the past ten years and currently has more than 130 students.

The Director said among the Cambridge University Advanced Level subjects that will be available are Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, English, General Paper, Law, Mathematics, Physics, Psychology, Sociology and Thinking Skills.

According to a release, Nations Sixth Form College is the International Centre in Guyana for Cambridge University Advance Levels (AL) examinations.

“AL examinations are the leading educational assessment around the world and Cambridge University ALs are pursued in 132 countries,” the press statement stressed.

It said that a very broad choice of AL subjects will be offered, and apart from the 3 or 4 academic subjects chosen, students will also pursue a General Paper, which entails an examination of current affairs.

As part of programme, students will be required to work one hour per week on a service project in the school or wider community.

The press statement said Dr O’Toole himself will be teaching Sociology, Psychology and the General Paper, while Ms Ellen Parmalee, a physiotherapist from the United States and former Assistant Dean in the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Guyana (UG), will impart the English curriculum.

In addition, a well known academic with vast experience in the sciences whose name cannot be disclosed because of personal reasons will handle the Physics and Chemistry.